January 17, 2012

Things That Annoy Cyclists

In Tokyo I rate taxi's as one of the most annoying things I have to put up with on the roads. I hear that in London it is bendy busses and lorries. This led me to ask on twitter :

London has lorries, Tokyo has taxi's. What is the cyclists mortal enemy in your city?

I was expecting answers like dump trucks, busses, soccer moms etc. but the range of answers I received really surprised me. Some of the annoyances included:

potholes

urban planners

senior cyclists

cycling advocates

dooring

pollution

compulsory helmet laws

4WD's

every other vehicle that can kill a cyclist

I was thinking traffic is a major annoyance to cyclists, but it turns out there is a lot more we need to improve to make cycling attractive to all. Everyone who wants to see more people cycling should take a step back and examine the multitude of things that need fixing and not just concentrate on traffic and safety.

Byron Kidd is the founder of the Tokyo By Bike website, writer, experienced urban cyclist, and expert on cycling in the staggering metropolis of Tokyo.

Working with NPO's and cycling activists to improve cycling infrastructure in Japan, Byron also operates internationally via a vast network of renowned urban mobility experts to promote Japanese cycling culture, and demonstrate how everyday cycling can work in megacities around the world. No city is too big for the bicycle.